Can I mount a rear rack on a road bike that has no eyelets on the frame?
Yes. All you need is a mounting clamp that wraps around the seatpost. Tubus makes a set that fits a variety of post diameters. If you haven’t yet ­purchased a new rack, consider a boom-style model,­ which is designed to mount directly to the seatpost. Average load capacity is about 20 pounds—acceptable for commuting, grocery shopping, even light touring. Check out racks from Zefal, Blackburn, and Delta.

My cat peed on my riding shoes. Will they stink forever?
As it turns out, I’m quite familiar with this problem. There is hope. Mix up a bucket of cold water with a specially formulated­ odor remover (I like Penguin Sport-Wash and Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Cleaner) according to the manufacturer’s directions. Remove your shoelaces or open the buckles and straps, then take out the footbeds. Put the shoes and footbeds into the bucket and agitate them by hand. Let ’em soak for a couple of hours. Rinse in cold water then place somewhere out of the sun to dry. I’ve found that this remedy also removes pee stains or smells from other apparel.

Why does my chain skip when I'm pedaling, but work fine in my workstand?
It shifts normally in the stand because there’s no load on the drivetrain as there is when you’re riding the bike. The likely ­reason it’s skipping is because it has stretched enough to wear out the chainrings and cassette (12 links shouldn’t measure more than 1/16 of an inch past the 12-inch mark). If your chainring teeth look ­scalloped or your cassette is deformed (something more ­easily diagnosed by a trained eye), start shopping. In the future, avoid damaging components by replacing your chain before it’s fully worn.

Roof, trunk, or hitch rack: Which best suits my needs?
While they all serve their intended purpose—to transport bikes—there are ­subtle differences to take into consideration. A roof rack is the most adaptable for carrying gear other than your bicycle (think snowboard or kayak). Remember: Remove your bike before pulling into your garage. If you don’t want a permanent setup, a trunk rack is the easiest to remove, but it limits access to your trunk and fits only about three bikes max; any more and the setup gets unwieldy. Remember: This rack sits directly on your vehicle’s paint and glass, so use caution. Hitch racks can secure up to four bikes by the wheels or the frame, so anything goes—from heavy downhillers to a pile of cumbersome cruisers to tri bikes. Plus, there’s no overhead lifting. Remember: Your vehicle just got longer.